Mailfence vs Mail-in-a-Box
Mailfence wins on privacy, Mailfence wins on price and Mailfence wins on features. Every fact below was checked on or before 25 October 2026.
Mailfence or Mail-in-a-Box: which should you choose?
- Mailfence suits you best if you want your mail kept in Belgium.
- Mail-in-a-Box is the better pick if you want open-source apps.
| Feature | Mailfence | Mail-in-a-Box |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 4.0 | Not rated |
| Privacy | 3.5 | Not rated |
| Price | 4.0 | Not rated |
| Features | 4.5 | Not rated |
| Cheapest plan | Entry €3.50 a month | Open source Free |
| Free plan | Yes, 500 MB–1 GB, no own domain | Yes, open source |
| Storage | 10 GB | Not confirmed |
| Your own domain | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| End-to-end encryption | Optional (PGP or encrypted storage) | No |
| Company based in | Belgium | United States |
| Your data is kept in | Belgium | Your own server |
| Founded | 2013 | 2013 |
| Free trial | Free plan | Free to download |
| Funded by advertising | No | No |
| Works in any mail app | ✓ IMAP and SMTP | ✓ IMAP and SMTP |
| Calendar and contacts | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Aliases | Yes | Yes |
| Open-source apps | No | ✓ Yes |
| Sign up without ID | No | No |
| White label | No | No |
| Reader offer | None | None |
| Last checked | 22 October 2026 | 25 October 2026 |
Want to add another? Open this in the compare tool.
The key differences
- On price: Mailfence Entry at €3.50 a month, against Mail-in-a-Box Open source at Free.
- For free, Mailfence gives you a free plan (500 MB–1 GB, no own domain), and Mail-in-a-Box a free plan (open source).
- Mailfence comes with 10 GB of storage and Mail-in-a-Box with storage not confirmed.
- Mailfence keeps your mail in Belgium, while Mail-in-a-Box keeps it in Your own server.
- Mailfence is based in Belgium and Mail-in-a-Box in the United States, so different privacy laws apply.
- Mailfence offers optional encryption (PGP or encrypted storage); Mail-in-a-Box doesn't encrypt mail end to end.
Common questions
Do Mailfence and Mail-in-a-Box work with my own domain?
Yes, both do. Mailfence: Yes. Mail-in-a-Box: Yes.
Where do Mailfence and Mail-in-a-Box keep my email?
Mailfence keeps it in Belgium. Mail-in-a-Box keeps it in Your own server.
Price changes and news
Neither price has changed since my first check on 22 October 2026.
The latest headlines: Mailfence news · Mail-in-a-Box news.
Not sold on either? Try these
Mailfence vs mailbox.org · Mail-in-a-Box vs mailbox.org · Mailfence vs Posteo · Mail-in-a-Box vs Posteo · Mailfence vs Proton Mail · Mail-in-a-Box vs Proton Mail
Switching between them
Moving to Mailfence · Moving from Mailfence. Or see all my switching guides.